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Monday, November 17, 2008

The Imagination Library is coming to Russell County. Imagine lots of preschool children reading. Isn't it a beautiful picture? Wait, you say. Preschool children can't READ. Well, no, they can't. But all the research shows that reading to kids and exposing kids to print on a page is preparing them for success in school and in life. Hearing new words when being read to prepares children to read those words for themselves. So that means you should be reading to the child in your life. Dolly Parton's Imagination Library is a foundation that provides books to preschool children at no cost to the family. Local groups pay for the cost of mailing the books to the children. In Russell County, the Russell County Rotary Club has joined the Friends of the Library and the Lebanon Lions Club to get the Imagination Library off the ground. Registration brochures are available in the public libraries and at other sites in the county. Online registration will be available soon. Why blog about it? Well, hey, we are THE LIBRARY!! Of course we think reading is a cool and wonderful thing. One of the primary goals for the library is to create young readers. The Imagination Library helps do that. Each month a child gets a book mailed to his or her home. The book is just right for the child's age; so the babies get board books (simple books designed to survive the teething stage!), while older children get books that help them get ready for school (think numbers, letters and colors.) In fact, the last book is Miss Bindergarten Gets Ready for Kindergarten, which arrives the month the child turns 5. What can you do? Well, you can make a contribution. A contribution of $30 (payable to Russell County Imagination Library, POB 545, Lebanon, VA 24266) will pay the cost of mailing books to one child for one year. And, of course, you can read to a child. :)

Just imagine...lots of happy readers. It's easy if you try. Set a good example; read something today.

Wednesday, October 29, 2008

So I begin with a humorous quote from Robert C. Gallagher, author of The Express - the story of Ernie Davis - a football player who was diagnosed with leukemia during his rookie NFL season.

Change is inevitable, and when you're lucky, it is absolutely and undeniably for the better! I'm Holly, Russell County Public Library's new Technology Coordinator and Administrative Assistant. Many of you know Karen, my predecessor. Well, she decided to move on and I have the privilege of filling her position here at the library. I thought that a short introduction would be more than appropriate!

I'm not from these parts; I was born and raised in the grand, flatland state of Georgia (extreme Southwest Georgia at that!). My husband and I were hired to work for CGI here in Lebanon, so we relocated to the mountains and are having such a wonderful time so far! While he still works for CGI-Federal, I decided to move on to a position more suited for my skills and interests. Karen had just resigned when I found the online job posting for the library, which also happened to be around the very time I resigned from CGI. Needless to say, I made it through the interview process, fell in love with Lebanon just a little bit more, and was pleased to discover that I had gotten the job! I've been here for about two weeks, and I learn something new and wonderful every day!

If you ever have any technology- and/or computer-related questions, please do not hesitate to come in to the library and ask for me. I will be of as much help as possible! Technology can be a very dark venture into the unknown for most, therefore I'm available to help travellers down its path - one problem at a time! I have a Bachelor's degree in Information Technology from Georgia Southern University, so even if I don't immediately have the answer to your question, I know how to find it!

As J.K. Rowling said, "Never trust anything that can think for itself if you can't see where it keeps its brain. "

Friday, October 3, 2008

"Until one has some kind of professional relationship with books, one does not discover how bad the majority of them are." --George Orwell

Do you, our general public, deem this quotation as true or false?

Our Verdict:

Misleading. Although many published works lack certain desirable qualities - clarity, focus, pacing, correct grammar, etc. - most all books are valuable as indicators of cultural phenomena, as studies in the art of crafting a story, or as prime examples of what not to do if one wishes to cement one's place in the literary canon.

Tuesday, September 30, 2008

The Russell County Public Library will be hosting a reception at its Lebanon Branch to celebrate our reading advocacy program, Russell Reads. The reception begins at 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, October 7, 2008.During the reception, you will have the opportunity to star in your own "READ" poster. You may bring your favorite book (as an adult or child!) to use as a prop when your picture is taken. If you don't have a copy of that book, please let us know and we will try to have a copy available; that copy will be placed at our libraries with a book plate in your honor. We hope this will give you an opportunity to learn more about the library's services and programs. Your knowledge about the library becomes a valuable asset for us when you share that knowledge with others. Please note that since this event is held in the Lebanon Library Meeting Room, it is open to the public and the media will also be invited.If you are able to join us, please call 889-8175 to let us know how many will attend. On behalf of the Library Friends, Board of Trustees, and staff, we look forward to seeing you!

Wednesday, September 24, 2008

Attention everyone! Andrew Chafin, author of the wildly popular Russell County, will now take your questions. The writer, whose information and photo rich tome has been requested by many of our patrons, will visit the Lebanon Library on Sunday, September 28, at 2:30 p.m. for a book signing. If you do not yet own a copy of Andrew Chafin's Russell County, you may purchase one at the time of the signing for $19.99.

Fall story time began at the Lebanon Library on September 9, 2008! And, I'm glad to say, the kids and the grownups really enjoy it!! This year, there are two different forms of story time, in order to better serve different age groups. A lap-sit story time, designed for ages 1 and under, begins at 10:30 on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. This session focuses on easy books, and incorporates music and simple movement. For this type of story time, children should be accompanied by an adult. A Preschool story time, designed for ages 2 and up, begins at 11:30 on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. In this session, the books get a little more challenging, and the movement gets a bit more…moving. This session also includes simple crafts, games, and coloring pages. All story times are held in the Meeting Room, from September until December. Join us for stories, music, crafts, games, cookies, and all-around fun! For more information, contact Katie Britt, at (276) 889-8044. Preschool story times are also held at the Honaker Community Library, on Thursdays, at 10:00 a.m. For more information on these story times, contact Kay Ball, at (276) 873-6600.

Monday, August 25, 2008

Come visit the Reading Roost at the Russell County Fair. What, you say, is the 'Reading Roost?' The Reading Roost is where a volunteer reader will be sharing children's books on the fair theme of 'Poultry in Motion.' Books like Duck for President and Chickerella will be read at set times. Check the fair schedule for times and bring your children for a quack, I mean, quick break with a book.

Yes, the books were written for children, but they can be enjoyed by ALL. When was the last time someone read to you? I bet you would enjoy it if someone read to you again. Give it a try! Bring yourself, sit on a straw bale and enjoy some fowl adventures.

Wednesday, August 20, 2008

Diane Griliches will visit the Lebanon Library on Sunday, September 7th, at 2:30 p.m. for a presentation and book signing. For those of you unfamiliar with her, Griliches is the author/photographer of the very popular An Appalachian Farmer's Story, a book which tells the story of Roy Lee Anderson, a craftsman and farmer from the Crossroads Section of Russell County, VA, in his own words. Yes, you read correctly! In his own words. Griliches transcribed the text of the book directly from a recording of Anderson's voice. The book comes with a CD of excerpts from that recording. She, being a photographer, also snapped the black and white photos in the book. An Appalachian Farmer's Story is available for purchase at the library. Those who already own the book may bring it to the book signing, and all are encouraged to ask Griliches to sign! For more information on this, or any other program at the library, call (276) 889-8044.

These are the items added to our local history collection during July.

Info Files:

Maps file: Added a 2008 map of Russell Co.Maps file: Added The Historical Atlas of Colonial America from Prehistoric Times to 1823.Cemeteries file: Added a list of the graves in the North Church Street Cemetery.Obituaries file: An addition was made

Dickenson Bundy Log House file: Added two brochures with the history of the structure including drawings and photos, as well as info on the old courthouse.

Family Files:

An addition was made to the Smith family file.An addition was made to the Lockhart family file, about the William Lockhart family.An addition was made to the Porter family file, with the descendants of Samuel Porter & Elizabeth Dunkin.

Books:

Old Homes and Gardens by Minnie L. Baugh (Abingdon homes)Kinfolks: Falling off the Family Tree: the Search for my Melungeon Ancestors by Lisa AltherMarriage Record of Washington County Tennessee 1787-1840 compiled by Norma Rutledge Grammar and Marion Day MullinsAmerican Marriage Records before 1699 edited and compiled by William Montgomery Clemens Washington County Virginia Surveyor’s Record 1781-1797 by Rhonda Robertson.

Hello all! And welcome to the Russell County Public Library's spiffy new blog! Although we here at the library are certainly fond of the printed word, we understand that in an age laden with technology, it is important to connect with our book-hungry public in several different fashions. And so, here you will find book reviews - by our staff, of course - program updates, new book arrivals, helpful weblinks, and occassional musings on the value of having that easily accessible font of information that is a public library. ;)